Worcester County

Service Members, Veterans & Their Families

Habitat for Humanity selects Dover veteran family

Foster's Daily Democrat - 10/10/2018

Oct. 10--DOVER -- A husband and wife who are both military veterans were thrilled to begin building the home of their dreams with the help of Habitat for Humanity, who held a ground-breaking ceremony at the site of the future home Tuesday.

Angela and Randy Turcotte and their two young children hope to move into the soon-to-be-built home on Prospect Street in Dover next summer.

"We've been looking for the past year and a half for someplace to move," said Angela Turcotte. But housing costs have been prohibitive for them.

Earlier this year, the two applied to Southern New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity to be selected as a partner family. "We were cautiously optimistic going through the process," she said.

Angela Turcotte remembered being in the kitchen of their apartment with her Army veteran husband Randy when the Executive Director of Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity Marcie Bergan called with the good news. "We're actually going to be able to do this," Angela Turcotte recalled thinking.

Among the good news is the house will be a one-story ranch, which is precisely what Angela Turcotte was hoping for in a home. Turcotte was injured while she was enlisted, and the injury has gotten worse over time. Her injury makes it difficult for her to climb stairs, among other tasks. The home also had three rooms for their growing family and space outside for the children to play. "It's a match made in heaven," she said.

She and her husband must put at least 250 hours of sweat equity into the project as part of the move-in requirements. Because of her disability, Angela Turcotte is working at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Newington to log her hours.

The Turcotte's were selected as part of Habitat's Veterans Build, a national initiative to provide housing solutions and volunteer opportunities to veterans, military service members and their families, according to a news release from Southeast N.H. Habitat for Humanity. The program focuses on building affordable housing, engaging military members through volunteer opportunities, homeownership opportunities and honoring our local veterans.

"The community has already come together, and there are several Veteran Build and corporate build days scheduled to help us raise the roof," Bergan said in a statement. "We cannot do what we do without the support we receive from our volunteers, corporate team builds, donors and individuals who support our mission of affordable housing."

Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit that works in partnership with corporations, like-minded community groups, faith-based organizations, universities, individual volunteers and donors to develop communities by building and renovating simple, decent, affordable homes with hard-working people who are in need.

To volunteer, donate or learn more about Southeast NH Habitat for Humanity call (603) 433-9555 or visit their website at www.senhhabitat.org.